What is A Sacrament

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church a sacrament has been defined as: “a visible sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.”

Within these words we hear three important and distinct statements:

A visible sign : An action performed by a priest or deacon as in Baptism when the water is poured over the child’s or adult’s head.

Instituted by Christ : Jesus instructed His followers through the church to offer the seven sacraments to His followers. The sacraments have been passed down through the centuries to all the followers of Jesus.

To give grace : Grace is a free gift from God once we have given our lives to Him and receive Him in the sacraments our lives are filled with a special grace from God.